WASHBURN, Maine — Residents will be handling their trash a little differently come March, following a vote Feb. 1 to approve the Pay-as-You-Throw Program proposed by the city of Presque Isle.
Town officials held a special town meeting at the Washburn Elementary School last Tuesday, giving citizens an opportunity to ask questions about the program before casting their votes on the matter. Presque Isle City Manager Jim Bennett and Presque Isle Solid Waste Director Dana Fowler joined Washburn Town Manager Bev Turner, Washburn Council Chair Mike Umphrey and Councilors Jeff Wark and Keith Brown to address concerns and respond to inquiries about what to expect in coming months.
Citizens were given two options to vote on. The first involved increasing the tipping fee from $32.50 per ton to $90 from April to December 2011; homeowners would contract with a hauler of their choice with fees expected to run about $35 per month; and the amount saved on solid waste disposal (reduction to the tax burden) would be about $10,639 from the 2010 amount and just over $41,022 from the 2011 amount that would be assessed, if no changes were made.
Under the second option, the same tipping fee changes would occur; but instead of paying a hauler, residents would be required to pay per bag at a price of $1.45 per 13-gallon and $3.05 for 30-gallon; and haulers would pick up all solid waste and recyclables curbside at a designated time each week. The savings would be the same as stated in the first option.
Under both options, disposing of recyclables would remain a free service.
Bennett explained that the way the budget was developed for solid waste, it’s a “self-contained budget.”
“We (Presque Isle officials) put together a budget and then meet with participating communities, usually in November, to discuss options,” he said.
Bennett said that PAYT will help extend the life of the landfill, which will in turn save taxpayers money.
“It was decided in 2008 to expand the landfill, through a bond of over $1.3 million. In 2011, we have to collect the first debt payment,” Bennett said, noting that increased recycling will help offset that figure. “Recyclables reduce overall costs. Everything we sell offsets the costs,” said Bennett. “All communities benefit; the money doesn’t lapse back to the city.”
A member of the audience asked what would happen if recycling increased and less was being thrown away. “You won’t have money to cover expenses. The money has to come from somewhere,” he said.
Bennett said that PAYT “wasn’t necessarily forever,” and that each community could revisit the process as necessary, but that, “based on the 2008 contract, towns are liable for the payment this year.”
Another man questioned why, if voters approved option 2, the program wouldn’t be considered mandatory for all in Washburn.
“We can’t force people to use (this program),” said Turner.
“Municipalities up until the late ‘80s used to control (the disposal of waste materials) but a court ruling said trash doesn’t belong to municipalities but rather individuals,” added Bennett.
“Most people will see that it’s cheaper to use PAYT than the alternative,” said Bennett, referring to the money and time it would cost to transport trash to the landfill.
Bennett said based on a meeting with town leaders, Presque Isle officials went to the two haulers (Star City Sanitation and Gil’s Sanitation) and worked it out so that the pricing for hauling trash would be the same in Washburn as that for residents of Presque Isle.
Turner said in all likelihood, according to Bennett’s meetings with the two haulers, one would provide service to Washburn, Wade and Perham households, while the other hauler would handle Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill. This addressed earlier concerns that the haulers would have to charge more to service other communities, due to the added mileage and distance from the landfill. Bennett reached an agreement with the haulers to charge the six communities the same pick-up fee per household that Presque Isle will be charged.
“We’re still working out the details but it’s likely that the six communities would be split between the two haulers. That will help keep costs down by reducing mileage covered by each hauler,” she said.
Turner said the new program will not increase property taxes.
“This will decrease the amount of taxes spent on solid waste disposal,” said Turner, noting that although taxes won’t go up based on the town’s participation in the PAYT program, other factors have yet to be determined. “The County and school’s portion of the budget may affect taxes but we won’t know that until their figures come in.”
The PAYT program is strictly limited to residential trash. Businesses and non-profits, including the two Washburn schools, will be required to pay $90 per ton for trash disposal, which could ultimately result in the school’s budget increasing. All residential trash will be picked up curbside and must be placed in either the PAYT bags or blue recycle bags. Bags for the program will be sold through participating local retailers and possibly made available through town offices. For more information on the program or where bags can be obtained, call 455-8485.
